2019 Group 10 Rugby League season

The 2019 Group 10 Rugby League season was the 73rd season of the premier rugby league competition in the Central West area of New South Wales. It was run under the auspices of the Country Rugby League. It was the seventh consecutive season to feature nine teams, after the re-admittance of the Blayney Bears in 2013.[1]

2019 Group 10 Rugby League
Teams9
Premiers Bathurst Panthers (4th title)
Minor premiers Orange Hawks (9th title)
Matches played76
Points scored3654
Top points scorer(s) Willie Wright - 181 (Bathurst Panthers)
Player of the year Nathan Potts (Orange Hawks)
Top try-scorer(s) Jared Robinson - 16 (Mudgee Dragons)
Ryan Griffin - 16 (Orange CYMS)

Bathurst Panthers entered the season as defending champions, after defeating Cowra Magpies 12–10 in the 2018 Premier League decider. Panthers five-eighth and goal kicker Willie Wright kicked a match-winning conversion with four minutes remaining in the decider played at Cowra's Sid Kallas Oval, sealing Panthers first Premier League title since 2007.

Panthers would defend its title with a 9–8 win over Mudgee Dragons in the grand final at Carrington Park that went to extra-time.

Off-season signings

[2]

TeamInOut
Bathurst Panthers Kevin Murray (Moore Park), Max Gay (Yanco-Wamoon), Louis Murphy (Walgett) Jye Barrow (Molong), Kade Barrow (Molong),[3] Blake Hewitt (Young)
Bathurst St Patrick's Luke Branighan (Oberon),[4] Mickey Hawkings (Oberon),[5] Traie Merritt (Forbes) Josh Howarth (Lithgow), Sam Dwyer (Parkes), Brandon Tago (Parkes)
Blayney Bears Steve Lane (Cargo), Leigh Monaghan (St Patrick's), Chris Shepherd (Bathurst Panthers) Tim Mortimer (Orange CYMS),[6] Mitch Evers (Northern Rivers RRL)
Cowra Magpies Lewis Dwyer (Parkes), Claude Gordon (Dubbo Westside), Logan Harris (Newcastle)[7]
Lithgow Workmen's Club Jack Sullivan (West Harbour, rugby union),[8] Josh Howarth (St Patrick's), Tui Oloapu (Oberon)
Mudgee Dragons Jack Littlejohn (Salford),[9] Casey Burgess (Lakes United), Grant Moore (Gymea Gorillas), Nick Harvey (Dubbo CYMS),
Jayden Brown (Canowindra), Tom Shearman (Lakes United), Austin Burgess (Lakes United), Harry Myers (Milton-Ulladulla),
Nick Wilson (Canowindra), Ben Thompson (Gulgong), James Okell (injury)		Nathan O'Brien (retired)
Oberon Tigers Matt Ranse (Blackheath), Richard Peckham (Wellington), Farren Lamb (Forbes)[10] Luke Branighan (St Patrick's), Mickey Hawkings (St Patrick's), Ben McAlpine (Orange CYMS), Dallas Booth (Portland),
Tui Oloapu (Lithgow), Dave Sellers (boxing),[11] Tyler Hughes (Newcastle)
Orange CYMS Ben McAlpine (Oberon), Tim Mortimer (Orange CYMS),[6] Steve Morris,[12] Jake Williams (East Campbelltown),
Jarred Tyack (Forbes), Kain Earsman (Canowindra), Joseph Ualesi (Parramatta), Josh Burke (Campbelltown City)		 Mick Sullivan (Wingham)
Orange Hawks Jared Brodrick (Corrimal), Alex Prout (Parkes), Matt Boss (Berkeley) Kyle Robbins (Port City Breakers), Tatafu Naaniumotu (Woodbridge Cup), Sia Nemani (Woodbridge Cup)

Premier League season summary

Eighteen rounds was played between March to August, which concluded with a finals played under the top five McIntyre System. Bathurst Panthers played its round one match against Blayney Bears on March 30 at Carrington Park. The match acted as a curtain raiser to NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm later that evening. The remainder of the first round of Group 10 Premier League was played on weekend beginning on April 13.

Orange Hawks claimed the minor premiership, but were bundled out in straight sets to be the first minor premier to miss the grand final since 1998, which ironically was the Orange Hawks. The grand final was played between the Bathurst Panthers and Mudgee Dragons. The match went to extra-time after the match finished 8–all after 80 minutes. Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt would kick a field goal in extra-time to give his side a 9–8 lead, which would prove enough for Panthers to claim a second consecutive premiership and its fourth overall.

Teams

Club Home ground Coach Captain President
Bathurst Panthers Carrington Park Doug Hewitt Doug Hewitt Dennis Comerford
Bathurst St Patrick's Jack Arrow Sporting Complex Luke Braninghan Luke Braninghan David Chapman
Blayney Bears King George Oval Ben McKenna[13] Tim Mooney
Cowra Magpies Sid Kallas Oval Kurt Hancock Marc McLeish
Lithgow Workmen's Club Tony Luchetti Showground Graeme Osborne Howard Fisher
Mudgee Dragons Glen Willow Jack Littlejohn Jack Littlejohn Sebastian Flack
Oberon Tigers Oberon Sports Ground Josh Starling[14] Josh Starling Ian Christie-Johnston
Orange CYMS Wade Park Dom Maley Dom Maley Dave Penny
Orange Hawks Wade Park Willie Heta Willie Heta

Group 10 Premier League ladder
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Orange Hawks 16 14 0 2 2 501 254 +247 32 Group 10 Minor Premiership
2 Bathurst Panthers (C) 16 14 0 2 2 471 240 +231 32 Group 10 play-offs
3 Mudgee Dragons 15 10 1 4 2 478 217 +261 25
4 Lithgow Workmen's Club 16 9 0 7 2 390 352 +38 22
5 Cowra Magpies 16 7 1 8 2 376 308 +68 19
6 Orange CYMS 15 6 0 9 2 404 414 −10 16
7 Oberon Tigers (R) 15 5 0 10 2 303 382 −79 14 Withdrew to Mid West Cup in 2020
8 Bathurst St Patrick's 16 4 0 12 2 278 508 −230 12
9 Blayney Bears 15 0 0 15 2 200 726 −526 4
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) point difference; 3) number of points scored.

Group 10 Premier League results

Round 1

Round 2

  • Orange CYMS had the bye.

Round 3

  • Mudgee Dragons scored more than 60 points in a game for the first time since round 16, 2017, when they defeated Blayney Bears 64−0.
  • Orange Hawks had the bye.

Round 4

  • Bathurst St Patrick's had the bye.

Round 5

  • Blayney Bears had the bye.

Round 6

  • Mudgee Dragons had the bye.
  • Lithgow Workies claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since round 18 in 2017.

Round 7

  • Orange CYMS had the bye.

Round 8

  • Lithgow Workmen's Club had the bye.

Round 9

  • Cowra Magpies had the bye.

Round 10

  • Bathurst Panthers had the bye.

Round 11

  • Orange Hawks had the bye.

Round 12

  • Bathurst St Patrick's had the bye.

Round 13

  • Blayney Bears had the bye.

Round 14

  • Mudgee Dragons had the bye.

Round 15

  • Orange CYMS had the bye.

Round 16

  • Oberon Tigers had the bye.

Round 17

  • Lithgow Workmen's Club had the bye.
  • The Oberon Tigers versus Blayney Bears and the Orange CYMS versus Mudgee Dragons were postponed after snow closed roads across the Group 10 region.[15] [16] With the result of the games making no difference to the competition ladder, they were not rescheduled.

Round 18

  • Cowra Magpies had the bye.

Group 10 Premier League finals series

 
  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1 Orange Hawks 16  
    2 Bathurst Panthers 36         2 Bathurst Panthers 9
2 Bathurst Panthers 40     1 Orange Hawks 0   3 Mudgee Dragons 8
3 Mudgee Dragons 18       3 Mudgee Dragons 14  
3 Mudgee Dragons 36
4 Lithgow Workmen's Club 24   4 Lithgow Workmen's Club 30  
5 Cowra Magpies 22

Elimination final/Qualifying final

Semi finals

Preliminary final

Grand final

Grand final report

Bathurst Panthers Position Mudgee Dragons
Josh RivettFBJayden Brown
Mackenzie AtkinsWGJared Robinson
Blake LawsonCENathan Orr
Kevin MurrayCELee Hicks
Louis MurphyWGHarrison Maynard
Willie WrightFEJack Littlejohn (c)
Doug Hewitt (c)HBTim Condon
Brent SeagerPRTom Shearman
Nick LoaderHKBen Thompson
Jason CorlissPRHamish Bryant
Jack SiejkaSRChanse Burgess
Blake SeagerSRTodd Munn
Jake BettsLKCasey Burgess
Jed BettsBenchLuke Moody
James HigginsBenchSebastian Flack
Josh SmallBenchAiden Woods
Brad FearnleyBenchJack Beasley
Doug HewittCoachJack Littlejohn

Bathurst Panthers hosted the Group 10 Rugby League grand final day for the first time since 2007. Mudgee Dragons had won won all their grand finals against Panthers (in 2000 and 2004) at Carrington Park.

The match was a low-scoring affair and it wasn't until the Dragons gave away two straight penalties that Panthers broke the deadlock with a penalty goal from the boot of Willie Wright in the 18th minute to give the Bathurst side a 2–nil lead.

Neither team could build momentum as both sides continued to shoot themselves in the foot through handling errors or discipline issues, but the Dragons crowd came to life with two minutes remaining in the half, voicing their approval of a huge break down the middle from Ben Thompson. Nathan Orr made the most of the chance close to the line, fending off an opponent before planting down the ball for the only try of the opening half. Mudgee lead 4–2 at half-time.

After play resumed for the second-half, Panthers looked to their left wing for a response eight minutes into the new half, however, Louis Murphy was denied on the try line by desperate Dragons defence.

Another Orr fend gave the Dragons centre a chance to score in the 57th minute but a strong tackle from Josh Rivett put him into touch.

However, Jack Beasley wasn't going to be denied five minutes later and the Mudgee substitute crashed over to give the Dragons a 8–2 lead.

It was on the 67th minute mark that the Panthers found their opening try of the match as second rower Jack Siejka scored between the uprights.

Wright's conversion brought the score level at 8–all and with no team finding the winning points in the remaining minutes, the match went to extra-time, the first grand final to require extra-time since 2006.

Extra-time would be five minutes each way and in their first chance to break the deadlock, captain-coach Doug Hewitt slotted home a field goal.

The Panthers held on to win their second consecutive Group 10 Rugby League Premier League title.

Bathurst Panthers 9 (Jack Siejka try; Willie Wright 2 goals, Doug Hewitt field goal)

Mudgee Dragons 8 (Nathan Orr, Jack Beasley tries)

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